Go Wild for Alaska with Holland America
This May, get more than an Alaskan cruise with Holland America. Along with cruising majestic Glacier Bay and Alaska’s famed Inside Passage, spend two nights at stunning Denali to explore the tundra, followed by the train journey of a lifetime. Book by the end of the month for a special offer…
Photo courtesy of Holland America
Holland America is all about introducing guests to unfamiliar places and fresh perspectives, and the Alaskan itinerary we have to share with you certainly reflects this. Their spacious, mid-sized ships are timeless and elegant. You’ll feel at home as soon as you step onboard, a feeling only enhanced by the warm, hospitable service onboard.
Best of all, you’ll be exploring America’s Last Frontier, Alaska, in all its wild glory. While you will still technically be in your home country, it will feel like you have been dropped onto another planet, such is the otherworldly magic of Alaska. Authentic experiences along the way will help you get to know this state in-depth, and we feel certain you’ll fall in love.
Set aside some time in May for this beautiful Alaskan itinerary. Don’t believe us? Check out the day-by-day itinerary AND the unmissable special offers below.
11-Night Double Denali with Holland America
May 18-29, 2022
Fairbanks to Vancouver
Day 1
May 18, 2022
Fairbanks
Your Land+Sea journey begins at your hotel in downtown Fairbanks. Explore Alaska’s second largest city today, which was born of Gold Rush history. This city’s location in Alaska’s interior makes it a gateway to the arctic, and you’ll learn the city’s history and see what it’s like today on your cruise.
Day 2
May 19, 2022
Denali National Park
This morning, board the sternwheeler Riverboat Discovery to feel as though you’ve stepped back in time. You’ll have lunch onboard.
This afternoon, it’s off to Denali for a two-night stay at the McKinley Chalet Resort, the ultimate basecamp from which to explore this magnificent national treasure. At an impressive 20,310 feet above sea level, Denali isn’t just any mountain; it’s the centerpiece of Alaska’s interior, a shining jewel rising above pristine Alaskan wilderness.
Day 3
May 20, 2022
Denali National Park
Today is all about the unforgettable Tundra Wilderness Tour. Holland America is the only cruise line to include this tour on all two- and three-night cruisetour itineraries. On this expertly guided six- to eight-hour adventure, you will take a deep dive into Denali National Park, giving you your best chance of seeing both the mountain and Denali’s iconic wildlife. Alaska’s Big Five includes grizzly bears, caribou, moose, Dall sheep, and wolves, and today’s excursion will seek out all five.
There are countless other bucket list opportunities, such as river rafting, flightseeing (including the chance to land a seaplane on Denali itself), or meeting an Iditarod dog musher and getting a sloppy kiss from a sled dog.
Day 4
May 21, 2022
Anchorage
Photo courtesy of Holland America
This morning, board the luxurious domed rail cars of the McKinley Explorer bound for Anchorage for a train journey so full of incredible sights that you are sure never to forget it.
From ice-blue glaciers to beluga whales and the famous bore tide, Anchorage will shorten any nature-lover's bucket list. From the city moose who roam the streets to the whales, puffins, otters, and Dall porpoises going about their days nearby, this is one of the best places to spot Alaskan wildlife.
Outdoor activities abound, with options for hiking, biking, and wildlife-sighting on the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail and Flattop Mountain Trail. Or, partake in the sport adventurous locals love: skijoring, which is when a person is pulled on skis by dogs or sometimes horses!
Day 5
May 22, 2022
Whittier
Prince William Sound (photo courtesy of Holland America)
Today’s train journey will take you along the scenic route of the Turnagain Arm to the tiny town of Whittier. This remote village is nestled along breathtaking Prince William Sound, home to a stunning array of wildlife, including bald eagles, sea otters, and orcas. A photographer’s dream! It’s full of small-town charm, a high concentration of glaciers, and plenty of outdoor activities such as fishing, hiking, scuba diving, and kayaking.
After explorations in Whittier, you’ll board your Holland America ship to begin the sea portion of your cruisetour.
Day 6
May 23, 2022
Cruising Hubbard Glacier
Enjoy a leisurely day onboard, highlighted by an afternoon spent cruising Hubbard Glacier, North America’s longest tidewater glacier. You’ll feel like you’re approaching another planet in a tiny spacecraft; that’s just how big and out-of-this-world Hubbard Glacier is.
Day 7
May 24, 2022
Glacier Bay
Photo courtesy of Holland America
Your cruise will bring you to Glacier Bay today. Close your eyes and take in the sounds—the creaks and groans of “living” ice, the shrill cries of gulls and soaring eagles, the splash of a breaching humpback whale. Frosted peaks towering over mossy forests, wide tidewater glaciers (there are seven in the park), and marine wildlife are givens, but every experience in this changing biosphere is unique. Best of all, Holland America ships are the perfect size for the optimal Glacier Bay experience.
Day 8
May 25, 2022
Skagway
Whichever shore excursion you choose today, you’ll be stepping back into the days of the last great gold rush with a visit to Skagway—and still have time to shop! Skagway was once a raucous frontier hub packed with trading posts, saloons, and guesthouses. As the gold rush faded into the 1900s, so did Skagway, but today it has been reinvigorated as a gateway for a new kind of visitor: those looking to explore Alaska’s colorful history, pristine wildlife, and unrivaled natural beauty.
Day 9
May 26, 2022
Juneau
You’ll have a nice full day today to explore Alaska’s capital, choosing from shore excursions that will show you the best of the city while still leaving you with time to explore and shop on your own.
Juneau is the most remote of all the US capitals. Surrounded by water, forest, and mountain sights, visitors seeking things to do indoors and outdoors in Juneau can hike a glacier, eat fresh-caught fish on a seaside patio, and tour a grand capitol building all in one day. Those wanting to spend time in the great outdoors won’t want to miss a hike up Mount Roberts to chance upon wild deer and bald eagles.
Day 10
May 27, 2022
Ketchikan
Photo courtesy of Holland America
Today’s uniquely Alaskan port is famous for its rich native culture, salmon fishing, and scenic Misty Fjords. Ketchikan is called Alaska’s “First City” because it’s the first major landfall for cruisers as they enter the picturesque fjords of the Inside Passage, where the town clings to the banks of the Tongass Narrows, flanked by green forests nurtured by abundant rain.
Ketchikan has long been an important hub of the salmon-fishing and -packing industries. Visitors can try their luck with sportfishing or simply savor the fresh seafood at one of the local restaurants. Ketchikan is also one of the best spots along the Inside Passage to explore the rich cultural sights of Native Alaskan nations like the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian. Explore the sights in the town itself, including historic Creek Street, a boardwalk built over the Ketchikan Creek, where you can shop for souvenirs, smoked salmon, and local art, while exploring gold rush-era tourist attractions like Dolly’s House Museum.
Day 11
May 28, 2022
Scenic Cruising of the Inside Passage
Your last full day onboard gives you a chance to relax on the ship as you cruise past some of the most stunning sights yet in Alaska’s Inside Passage, a protected network of waterways that wind through glacier-cut fjords and lush temperate rainforests along the rugged coast of southeast Alaska. Spot humpback whales and orcas playing in the bountiful waters alongside the ship while bald eagles soar overhead and brown bears lumber on the shoreline. This is arguably one of the best cruising routes in the world.
Day 12
May 29, 2022
Vancouver, B.C.
Your cruise comes to an end today as your ship docks in Vancouver, British Columbia. We are happy to assist in arranging any post-cruise time you might like in this beautiful Canadian city before returning home with a camera full of photos and a mind full of memories.
Special Offers
As if the itinerary on its own wasn’t enough, Holland America also has some fantastic special offers you should know about.
The Ultimate Upgrade Event
Book by February 28, 2022
Ride the White Pass Railway for free on an exhilarating Gold Rush shore excursion, valued at over $100 USD, when you book an Alaskan cruise or cruisetour to or from Vancouver (this itinerary qualifies!).
Also includes:
Free stateroom upgrades
Kids cruise Alaska for $75!
50% reduced deposit
Shore excursion(s)
Drink package, specialty dining, & Wi-Fi
Military, Healthcare, & First Responder Appreciation
Book by March 15, 2022
In appreciation of your loyal and selfless service, Holland America and Poe Travel are extending a special offer to healthcare workers, first responders, and active, retired, or veteran military personnel on select cruises (this itinerary qualifies!).
This offer includes:
Shore excursions
Drink package
Specialty dining
Wi-Fi
$100 USD onboard credit
The team at Poe Travel is ready to design a customized itinerary for you around this fabulous cruisetour with Holland America. We will also make sure that you are given the VIP treatment from beginning to end, securing complimentary stateroom upgrades and added amenities wherever possible, thanks to our stellar relationship with our friends at Holland America.
If you would like to Go Away to Alaska with Holland America, simply contact us. We will check dates and rates and design a personalized itinerary just for you.